Automotive gas tank cover switch



. AUTOMOTIVE GAS TANK COVER SWITGH Filed July 2l, 1944 NVENTOR.

ATTDRN EYS Patented Sept. 10, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to an alarm which is particularly adapted for use in connection with the cover of a storage tank for gasoline used as fuel for the engine of a motor vehicle but it is to be understood that the alarm may be applied to the filling neck of a tank in which any material is stored and-serve as a signal when the cover of the neck is detached from the neck.

One object of the invention is to provide an alarm having a circuit closer or switch which may be applied to the neck of a storage tank with a plunger extending into the neck for engagement with a member carried by the cap and serving to hold the switch open while the cover is in tight closing engagement with the neck.

Another object of the invention is to so form the switch that a plunger carrying a movable contact will be urged towards a closed position and automatically move into engagement with a stationary contact should the cover of the neck of the storage tank work loose or a person forget to apply the cap after lling the tank.

Another object of the invention is to provide a switch wherein the movable contact carried by the plunger is at all times in engagement with one stationary contact having connection with a source of energy and moves with the plunger into position for engagement with a second stationary contact having connection with a grounded horn or equivalent signal.

Another object of the invention is to provide the cover of the neck of the storage tank with a conical abutment member which extends into the neck when the cover is applied and engages the inner end of the switch plunger with a cam action serving to shift the movable contact to an opened position where it will be held until the cover is intentionally removed or accidentally slips out of place upon the neck, there being a second switch for rendering the horn inactive when the cover is removed for filling the tank.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is a sectional view showing the switch applied to the neck of a tank and the cover applied.

Figure 2 is a top plan View of the switch..

Figure 3 is a View looking at the outei` end of the switch.

This switch is intended primarily for use in connection with the fuel tank of a motor vehicle and is applied to the neck I of the tank. The signal 2 may be a horn or equivalent audible or visual signal which is grounded by a wire 3. This signal is located upon the automobile in a convenient location and power for actuating the horn is obtained from a battery t or equivalent source of energy which is grounded by a wire 5.

Flow of current from the battery i to the horn 2 is controlled by an automatic switch 6 which is located under the portion of the motor vehicle body 'l through which the lling neck passes and has a casing 3 formed with side flanges 9 through which bolts Ell pass to secure the casing to a base or bottom I l. This base has depending side anges I2 carrying resilient jaws i3 which nt about the neck and are secured in tight gripping engagement with the neck by a bolt I4 which passes through ears l5 at outer free ends of the jaws. It will thus be seen that the switch may be easily applied to the neck and iirmly secured thereto.

A plunger I6 extends longitudinally through the casing t and within the casing carries a block of insulation il which is iixed to the plunger and is engaged by one end of a spring I8 which has its other end abutting the outer end wall of the casing and serves to urge the plunger towards an extended position in which the metal plate IE! carried by the block il has bridging engagement with both of the stationary contacts 2E? and ZI carried by terminal screws 22 and 23.

These screws 22 and 223 are mounted through the top wall of the casing in insulated relation thereto and to their outer ends are secured wires 24 and 25 which connect them with the horn 2 and the battery. When the plate I5 is in bridging engagement with the terminals 2b and 2i the horn will be energized and sound an alarm to indicate that the cover 2G of the neck l is not in place. During iilling of the tank with gasoline it is not desired toy have the horn operated and therefore there has been provided a switch 2l mounted within the length of the wire 25. By opening this switch the circuit will be broken and the annoyance of having the horn blow while the tank is being lled will be eliminated. A key 28 which is carried by the outer end portion of the plunger and engages in a notch formed in the rear end wall of the casing prevents the plunger 'from turning in the casing and the plate I9 will thus be retained at the top of the block of insulation l'I in position for engaging the stationary contacts. This plate at all times engages Contact 2| but only engages Contact 2) when the plunger is moved to an extended position by the spring IE.

Referring to Figure 1 it will be seen that the cover 26 carries a conical cam member 29 which extends downwardly therefrom in concentric relation to the cover. When the cover is applied to the neck and secured by pins or tongues 3U which project radially thereof and engage in bayonet slots 3| formed in the flange 32 of the neck the lower end portion of the conical cam member engages the front end of the plunger and forces the cam to the retracted position and the plate I9 will be out of engagement with the stationary contact 2Q. The switch 2l can then be closed and as long as the cover remains in place the horn will be silent. If, however, the cover should work loose and move upwardly out of engagement with the neck only out of a tight closing position the spring I8 will shift the plunger to an extended position and as soon as the plate I9 engages contact 2Q the circuit will be closed and the horn sounded. The driver of the motor vehicle will thus be warned that the cover 26 has worked loose from the filling neck and will stop the vehicle and replace it. .A pin 33 limits forward movement of plunger and prevents it from moving forwardly beyond the position shown in Figure 2.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

l.. In combination with the filling neck of a storage tank and a cover movable into and out of closing relation to the neck; a conical cam member carried by the cover and extending downwardly therefrom in concentric relation to the cover within the neck, a switch having a cas ing mounted at one side of the neck, a stationary Contact carried by said casing in insulated relation thereto a second stationary contact carried by said casing forward of and in alignment with said rst mentioned contact, a plunger slidable through said casing and projecting from said casing and into the neck transversely thereof with its front end bearing against a side portion of the cam member, a block of insulation carried by said plunger within the casing, a contact carried by said block, and a spring in said casing urging said plunger forwardly to move the contact carried by said block into engagement with the second mentioned stationary contact when the cover and its cani member are displaced from the neck.

2. In combination with the filling neck of a storage tank and a cover movable into and out of closing relation to the neck; a conical cam member carried by the cover and extending downwardly therefrom in concentric relation to the cover within the neck, a switch having a casing provided with outstanding side flanges, a bottom for said casing secured to the flanges thereof and provided with depending side flanges, clamping arms extending forwardly from the flanges of the bottom and engaged about said neck, a bolt passing through front ends of the clamping arms for securing the same in gripping engagement with said neck and mounting the casing at one side of the neck, a stationary contact car- Lil ried by said casing and insulated therefrom a second stationary contact carried by said casing forward of and in alignment with said first mentioned contact, a plunger slidably passing through said casing and projecting forwardly therefrom with its forward portion extending into the neck transversely thereof and bearing against a side portion of the cam member, a contact carried by said plunger in insulated relation thereto, and a spring for urging the plunger forwardly and moving its contact into engagement with the second mentioned stationary contact to sound an alarm when the cover is displaced from the neck.

3. In combination with. the filling neck of a storage tank and a cover movable into and out of closing relation to the neck; a conical cam member carried by the cover and extending downwardly therefrom in concentric relation to the cover' within the neck, a switch having a casing mounted at one side of the neck, a stationary contact said casing a second stationary contact carr by said casing forward of and in alignment with said first mentioned contact, a plunger slidable through said casing with its forward vtion projecting from the casing and into the neck transversely thereof for abutting engagement with a side portion of said cam mema contact carried by said plunger in insued relation thereto, and a spring urging said plunger forwardly to move its contact into engagement with the second mentioned stationary contact.

ll. A circuit closing switch for a device of the character described comprising a casing, open at its bottom and having side flanges projecting from opposite sides of its open bottom, a bottom wall secured against said flanges and having depending flanges along its sides, resilient arms eX- tending forwardly from the flanges of the bottom wall and bent to form clamping jaws for engaging about a support, a bolt passing through front ends of said arms for clamping the jaws about the support, a plunger slidable longitudi- 5 nally through the casing, insulation carried by said plunger within the casing, a metal plate carric-d by said insulation, terminal pins mounted through the top wall of said casing in spaced relation to each other longitudinally of the casing and insulated from the casing, contact strips at inner ends of said pins with one bearing against the plate at all times and the other engaging the plate when the plunger is shifted forwardly to an extended position, a key carried by said plunger and engaged in a notch formed in the rear end wall of the casing and serving to prevent turning of the plunger, and a spring urging the plunger forwardly to its extended pm sition.

OBIE E. OLSON 

